IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Turn 5

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama competitor No. 56 David Baker / Colleyville, TX (M) - TOPP Racing/Apex Capital Corp. dips into the apex of Turn 5 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and spins counter-clockwise, to stall the middle of the exit of the turn. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien (2016)

IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Turn 5

At the recent Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama competitor No. 56 David Baker / Colleyville, TX (M) - TOPP Racing/Apex Capital Corp. dips into the apex of Turn 5 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and spins counter-clockwise, to stall the middle of the exit of the turn.

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama competitors No. 49 Sebastian Landy / Great Falls, VA TPC Racing Forto/Strong Coffee, No. 52 Kurt Fazekas / Indianapolis, IN (M) - Kelly-Moss Road and Race, and No. 11 Philip Bloom / New York, NY - Wright Motorsports take evasive action and pass next to the apex line of Turn 5 while No. 31 Michael de Quesada / Tampa, FL - Alegra Motorsports/Insync is forced to take a line that had him off-roading, into the gravel trap, on the outside of Turn 5.

All cars missed each other and continued on to race another day.

Photo Images - Brandon O'Brien  <>  <>  <>  Video Compilation - Edmund Jenks

Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama - RESULTS

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda, Porsche, GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, #MRLS, #CMGP, The EDJE

Mazda, And Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Plays Gracious Host to Historic IMSA Race Weekend

Mazda Prototype cars No, 70 leads eventual Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Pole winner No. 55 out of Turn 11 on to the front straightaway at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

Mazda, And Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Plays Gracious Host to Historic IMSA Race Weekend

The way the weather opened up to perfect springtime cloudless skies over Saturday and Sunday, it seemed as though everything else would be perfect for Mazda Motorsports and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda race event weekend ... and it almost was. The one thing clear, from the beginning, was that this weekend seemed poised to go down in the motorsports record books and be remembered as historic (as opposed to hosting 'Historics').

The race weekend was full of competition everywhere for nearly every fan featuring the IMSA sanctioned series that include - Feature Race: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – Click HERE for pre-race entry list. Support Races: IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge | Global Mazda Battery Tender MX-5 Cup (Click HERE for entries) | Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo | Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama (Click HERE for entries).

Located right next to the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca race track's Start/Finish Line and pitlane, is the Mazda Motor Corporation's effort to honor people who have purchased their cars.  On display (L to R) Mazda6, Mazda3, and a IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Mazda Prototype Class gasoline-fueled MZ-2.0T inline four cylinder engine powered sportscar ... all displayed in "Soul Red." Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

For Mazda Motorsports' contribution, all one had to know was that the MX-5 Cup would hold its first two races of the season in a unified effort (no Skip Barber) using the latest global spec version of the MX-5 Miata roadster released last year. The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata has received rave reviews and multiple awards since its 2015 debut, including World Car of the Year.

During the opening rounds (1 & 2) of the 2016 Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires, the field of 40 cars and drivers, Mazda showed the way to lead in an undeniable effort at the development of race car drivers, racing, and the pursuit of happiness to all who witnessed this exercise in abundant competition.

Before the drop of the first Green Flag of the season, John Doonan, director of motorsports, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO), noted, "This MX-5 Cup race weekend represents almost two years of hard work by hundreds of people.  Having great partners like Battery Tender, BFGoodrich Tires, Long Road Racing and the many engineers within Mazda, both here and Japan, makes this a very special weekend. The rush of cars going into turn two on Friday afternoon will be an amazing sight. Those not in Monterey can tune in to the livestream. I predict epic racing action."

... and epic racing action ensued.

The 2016 Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires field of 40 drivers. Image Credit: Myles Regan (2016)

Included in this field of race car driving standout hopefuls were 2015 MX-5 Cup champion John Dean II, Sarah Montgomery (recipient of the Spirit of Mazda for March 2016), Certified Stunt Driver Drake Kemper, Earned $100,000 Mazda Scholarship awardees Robby Foley (2015 Skip Barber Champion), Glenn McGee (Mazda Road to 24 iRacing Shootout), Ara Malkhassian, Nikko Reger, Mark Drennan, Patrick Gallagher, Dean Copeland, and Gareth Nixon to mention a few.

With 40 global spec Mazda MX-5 Miatas in the field, room to race at speed seemed just a little hard to come by. On the first lap, the track was not wide enough to accommodate the thundering herd (4+ wide) as the dust at the rear of this image (exit of Turn 2) attests. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016) 

This excerpted and edited from Mazda Motorsports - 

In the historic first race of the 2016 Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires, reigning 2015 series champion and Mazda Road to 24 (#MRT24) scholarship driver John Dean II (No. 16 Sick Sideways Racing) started the race on pole after an impressive qualifying session. Dean II led the 40-car field to the green flag for the start of the 45-minute race. With six lead changes and numerous position changes among the top-three, the first race of the Battery Tender MX-5 Cup was nothing short of thrilling.

Entering the first turn, Patrick Gallagher (No. 72 McCumbee McAleer Racing) fell back from second to eighth after getting trapped in the motorcycle lane in the first turn.

The incident allowed rookie Mark Drennan (No. 50 Winding Road Team TFB) to move up one spot to second while veteran Ara Malkhassian (No. 11 ALARA Racing) slid up two positions to third. Malkhassian’s place was short-lived, however, as MRT24 scholarship driver Robby Foley (No. 63 Atlanta Motorsports Group) made a move 10 minutes into the race to take the position.

Halfway into the race, only .115 seconds separated the top two drivers. As the top five continued to battle, Gallagher made his way back from mid-pack, overtaking Nikko Reger (No. 01 Copeland Motorsports) for fifth. In lap 14, at the exit of the last turn, Drennan would be punted off track, falling back to eighth. Gallagher slid into second, followed by Dean Copeland (No. 7 Copeland Motorsports) in third.
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Looking down on the action through Turn 3 during late race movements with No. 1 Dan Martinson, Rogers, MN Atlanta Motorsports Group, No. 27 Nick Igdalsky, Long Pond, PA McCumbee McAleer Racing, No. 99 Drake Kemper, Thermal, CA Sick Sideways Racing, No. 23 Glenn McGee, Tampa, FL Sick Sideways Racing. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

With less than 10 minutes remaining, Dean II led the field, followed closely behind by Gallagher and Foley in third. In lap 21, Gallagher made an exciting move for the lead, overtaking Dean II; the two were separated by only .263 seconds. Reger made an assertive move in lap 21 to slide into candidacy for podium position.

With one lap remaining, Dean II had one more opportunity to overtake Gallagher, but fell short. Gallagher won the race by 0.121 seconds, followed by John Dean II. Although he crossed the line in third, Reger was penalized for his car being underweight in the post-race technical inspection; Foley took the third place podium.

“We got trapped in the motorcycle lane and my car ended up in the dirt,” recalls Gallagher, when asked about the incident early in the race. “But I knew the car was going to be good at the end of the race and that’s what we planned. I stayed calm. I knew it was a 45-minute race and I just started picking off cars one by one.”

A notable finish was Gareth Nixon (No. 3 Nixon Investments) who won the Battery Tender Hard Charger award. Nixon began the race in 40th position and picked up 23 spots to finish in 17th place.

John Doonan, Director of Motorsports, Mazda North American Operations, did the official trophy presentation and noted, “Today’s race was the combined effort of many people and companies.  It was great to see 45 minutes of superb racing without a single caution flag.  It was special to have so many people from Battery Tender, BFGoodrich Tires, Long Road Racing and others here with Mazda.”
[Reference Here]

MRT24 scholarship driver Robby Foley (No. 63 Atlanta Motorsports Group) is interviewed by Racer's Steve Smith and  Tony Karis in post Round 2 press conference on his win. Robby was able to score two podium finishes in the first two rounds (P3 & P1 respectively) of the Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

And this -

Robby Foley Takes the Second Win of the Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires. Foley took the win, followed by Copeland in second and Dean II in third.

“Toward the beginning of the race, I was having some trouble with the brakes and that’s why I fell to third,” recalled race 2 winner Foley; he continued: “The guys behind me were racing really hard, but I was in that bubble where I couldn’t quite catch John and Patrick. I was matching their times, but couldn’t catch them. The caution actually helped me out and I was able to get back to the leaders. I took a chance in turn 2 near the end of the race and made it stick.”

Other notable finishes included rookie Nicholas Evancich (No.41 Sick Sideways Racing) who took the Battery Tender Hard Charger award with 22 positions gained moving from 35th position to 13th place.

Rounds 3 and 4 of the Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires will be at Watkins Glen on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15, 2016.

Global Mazda MX-5 Cup cars as they leave the Corkscrew and enter the technical downhill Turn 9. Driving (leading right to left) are No. 9 Matt Fassnacht, New York, NY ALARA Racing, No. 82 Max Faulkner, Rumson, NJ McCumbee McAleer Racing, No. 03 Ashton Harrison, Villa Rica, GA GB Racing, and No. 29 Justin Raphael, Franklin Lakes NJ McCumbee McAleer Racing. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

Round 2 Details Here >>>

With the introduction to racing of the new global spec MX-5 Miata in Rounds 1 & 2, Mazda Motorsports also re-engineered its IMSA Prototype Class car from a SKYACTIV Diesel power-plant configuration used over these last three years to a 2-litre gasoline powered engine. The new package had showed some better pace over the diesel during the Daytona 24 and Sebring 12 hour endurance races as well as on the Toyota Grand Prix Long Beach street course previously run ... but now it was time to show what had been learned through the introduction of this new racing approach to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca home track.

From the drop of the first Green Flag for practice of the Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the No. 70 and No. 55 bested the speeds set by all other competitors in the 4th Round of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series (save the final warm-up practice before the race) before setting first-ever Mazda Prototype program Pole Award in qualifications.

Tristan Nunez happy that these Mazda, Advanced Engine Research Ltd. (AER), and SpeedSource prepared Mazda Prototype gasoline-fueled MZ-2.0T inline four cylinder engines love the hills of Monterey. The first thing noticed by the driver with this change in configuration is how smooth the power is delivered in every gear through the RPM range ... there is great low-end torque with zero turbo-lag. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

This excerpted and edited from Mazda Motorsports -

Tristan Nunez turned a fast lap of 1:18.143 (103.103 mph) [IMSA Prototype track record - 2008 Monterey Sports Car Championships, David Brabham set a pole position time of 1:10.103 in a Le Mans Prototype] to lock up his first TOTAL Pole Award in the No. 55 Castrol/ModSpace Mazda co-driven by Monterey resident Jonathan Bomarito. Tom Long settled for second, running 1:18.379 (102.793 mph) in the No. 70 Castrol/ModSpace Mazda co-driven by Joel Miller.
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It is the first pole for the Mazda Prototype team that began life with a stock block diesel engine, but has leapt into contention this year with the new Mazda MZ-2.0T gas-powered engine.

“I’m at a loss for words. I think the whole team is at a loss for words right now,” said Nunez, shortly after his fast lap.  “We knew what we had coming in here. We had a strong car and our car loves this track. I mean, it’s Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, after all. We pushed our hearts out - in both cars. We’re starting tomorrow’s race one - two, so what better place than Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - especially for our first pole? I’m extremely honored to be the one that got to do that so it’s awesome.

“I was driving on the edge - the absolute edge,” said Nunez. “I think we’re going to be doing that in the race as well. And we’re prepared to do that.

“We’ve been struggling for the past three year,” Nunez explained. “It’s been a challenging three years and now it’s really showing that we used that time to practice, like practicing pit stops. That’s so important plus every other little piece of the puzzle that we needed to get right. We put in the work, and it’s showing right now. We’re really going to show what we’re made of tomorrow in the race.”
ENDS

The race, however, ended in a more disappointing fashion. After starting the race and gaining two successive leads of over 12 seconds on the field of large displacement earth-shaking DP Corvettes and experimental racing machines, the Mazda Prototype cars did not finish the race with such promise as the qualifications performance and the first 26 laps would suggest.

Biggest story of the two hour race in the Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Prototype Class at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in one image. The No. 60 Michael Shanks Racing Honda HPD Ligier JS P2 driven by Oz Negri and John Pew (leading) qualified last in class go on to win Round 4 while the cars that qualified the best at P1 and P2 (following) encountered racing trouble starting on Lap 26. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

This excerpted and edited from Mazda Motorsports - 

What had been a perfect weekend for the Mazda Prototype team at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca turned into disappointment in the final hour of today’s Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda. Tristan Nunez, who started on the pole position, and co-driver Jonathan Bomarito finished fourth in the No. 55 Mazda Prototype, which matches the best-ever finish for the team. The No. 70 Mazda driven by Tom Long recorded the fastest lap of the race (1:19.206) and ran in second place before handing over to co-driver Joel Miller. Unfortunately, soon after Miller climbed aboard, the oil pump failed [Turn 6 and stopping on the Rahal Straight], knocking the car from the race. They finished eighth in the Prototype class and 18th overall.

Until trouble found the No. 70, it had been a dominating performance by the two-car team.
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When the race began, Nunez led with Long second for the first 25 laps (40 minutes into the two-hour race), pulling away from the rest of the field by more than 16 seconds. A yellow flag then flew, and the two Mazda came to the pits for fuel, tires and driver changes. An issue with refueling the No. 55 car led to a lengthy stop, which dropped new driver Bomarito to sixth place. At the restart, Bomarito sliced through the field, aggressively climbing to second place.

Running second to the eventual winner, Bomarito saw an opportunity to make a pass for the lead in heavy traffic going into Turn 10, but spun into the gravel at the exit of the corner. He was able to continue, but the tires were damaged enough that he was unable to match his earlier pace.
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Jonathan Bomarito greets and talks with fans gathered during the pre-race grid walk ... a cherished tradition when everyone gathers on pit row (fans, drivers, mechanics, team owners, & etc.) where the cars are lined up in order of qualification before race start. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016) 

Jonathan Bomarito, Driver, No. 55 Mazda Prototype
About jumping from sixth into second in only a few laps: “I knew we had the refueling issue, so I knew I had to push hard to get by the [Daytona Prototypes] because we didn’t want the No. 60 [eventual winner] car to get away. We were able to do that. It was fantastic and it was good, hard racing.

About the spin: “We had some traffic coming into [Turn] 10 and I saw an opportunity to go for the lead. It was just a little bit too aggressive getting back on the power and lost the rear-end. So, that was pretty much our race right there. Once you spin and flat-spot or hurt the tires, there’s not any coming back from that. We were on a storybook weekend and we didn’t finish it so I’m gutted for the team and everyone at Mazda and SpeedSource. These guys work harder than anybody else, so you wear that on your shoulders as a driver and you want it for them really bad.”

Tom Long, Driver, No. 70 Castrol/ModSpace Mazda Prototype
“Today was a difficult day, but if you look at the weekend as a whole, we had an incredible effort from our whole Mazda Motorsports team. The car that they gave me to race was absolutely fantastic. It was on rails around Mazda Raceway. It felt so good to be out there and set the fastest lap of the race. We certainly had the pace, but things didn’t fall our way today. It’s difficult to deal with, but you just swallow it and it fuels you for for the next time.”

No. 70 Castrol/ModSpace Mazda Prototype bookended up the back straight between Turns 5 & 6 by the No's 912 and 911 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSRs. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

Joel Miller, Driver, No. 70 Castrol/ModSpace Mazda Prototype
“I don't know if ‘character building’ is the right term. But, this is motorsports and these things can happen at the worst times. The 55 car battled through and came home with fourth - again matching our best result. The highlight of the weekend for us was to lead every practice and qualifying on the front row.

“Being as dominant as we were, I think that’s where we’re supposed to be for a team of this caliber. We went out there and did our jobs. The results are coming. Now, we know we’re going to show up at each race and have the potential to do that. It’s expected to be that way. We’re going to work on our set-ups to be better when we get to the next race.”
ENDS

Lastly, in the GTLM Class, more history was made by Ford when the Eco-Boost powered Ford GT scored its first ever victory before its anticipated participation in the famed 24 Hours Of Le Mans.

Ganassi Racing's Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook pilot the new Ford GT through the Corkscrew turn to a fuel conservation aided win in the GTLM Class at the Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

This excerpted and edited from IMSA.com - 

Ford GT Makes History With GT Le Mans Win At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Just four races into the heralded Ford GT program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, No. 67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing co-drivers Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe earned a breakthrough GT Le Mans (GTLM) class victory in the Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Westbrook and Briscoe benefited by a mix of speed and strategy to earn the victory. Briscoe qualified the No. 67 Ford GT second on Saturday and slotted into second behind the No. 68 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GTE of Daniel Serra through the early stages of the two-hour race. He ran one position ahead of teammate Dirk Muller in the No. 66 Ford GT until he pitted to turn the car over to Westbrook 45 minutes into the race.

During that stop, the car momentarily got stuck in first gear, and by the time Westbrook rejoined the field he had fallen all the way back to sixth in class. With the loss of track position, the team elected to conserve fuel.

Father and son (top) celebrate Ford GT's first win - father Dan Binks, Crew Chief Corvette Racing, and son Phillip Binks, Mechanic (bottom) to the Chip Ganassi Racing effort on the No. 67 EcoBoost powered Ford GT as it becomes race ready for the 24 Hours Of Le Mans. Image Credit: Norm DeWitt (2016)

“[The pit stop] cost us five or six seconds and five or six positions, and you aren’t going to drive it to the front from that position” Westbrook said. “So that’s what you get when you race with Chip Ganassi, you get out of the box solutions.”

The out of the box solution eventually paid big dividends. Westbrook worked his way up to second in the running order, behind teammate Joey Hand in the No. 66, as his other competitors made their final pit stops.

With 15 minutes remaining, Westbrook dove to the inside of Hand entering Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s famed Andretti Hairpin (Turn 2). With six minutes to go, Hand pitted for a splash of fuel, dropping him back to an eventual sixth-place finish.

Westbrook, meanwhile, had conserved enough fuel that he did not have to stop again, going on to score the win by 12.545 seconds over Alessandro Pier Guidi in the No. 68 Ferrari. It was Westbrook’s ninth career victory in major U.S. sports car racing and his third at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and was the 12th major U.S. sports car win for Briscoe.

“It’s just so exciting,” Briscoe said. “It’s been a tough few months getting this program running. These guys have been working so hard. We’ve struggled with battles. We struggled a bit with balance but figured it out. We just missed the pole, and to get the win for Ford is huge. It means a lot for me and the whole program.”

Dave Pericak, Director, Ford Performance, on the first victory for the Ford GT:  “We’ve been waiting for this win for a long time. I think it’s great that it came as a fuel economy win. It’s great for Ford EcoBoost, because that’s what it’s all about.”

Third place went to Frederic Makowiecki and Earl Bamber in the No. 912 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR.
[Reference Here]

Between hosting a full schedule of practice and races over three days, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca continued to prove its mettle and position in motorsports culture and history.

From historic first-ever full field races in the new global MX-5 Miata roadster platform, history-making first-ever Pole Award with the re-made Mazda Prototype platform plus highest-ever finish in the 3+ year IMSA Prototype program, and a first-ever win by the re-introduced Ford GT before the 24 Hours Of Le Mans ... all hosted at one of the most grand road tracks in the racing world - Mazda, as always, did itself well in creating a motor culture set of memories in a fashion no other manufacturer of cars can, or will, do.

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: Mazda, Battery Tender, BFGoodrich Tires, Long Road Racing, Continental Tire, IMSA, MX-5 Cup, Prototype, GTLM, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, #MRLS, Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda, Ford GT, EcoBoost, Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama,

Spoken Word Documentary "Racing Through the Forest" At Pebble Beach Delivers A 'Must See'

Crowd of motor culture enthusiasts gather to see the premiere screening of “Racing Through the Forest – The History of the 1950-56 Pebble Beach Road Races”. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

Spoken Word Documentary "Racing Through the Forest" At Pebble Beach Delivers A 'Must See'

Boxes that contain photographs arranged in albums (not just images) of times shared in a lifetime are nothing more than just books with photos. It takes other humans who have courage, patience, acumen, and heart to attempt to capture context and tales associated with the lives and times of a bygone era so important to our modern day motor culture ... here, and throughout the world.

Race car driver, Rick Knoop is one such person who, with the support and talents of film-maker Dean Kirkland, Rick's wife Cydette Vikander Knoop, and the rest of the organization at K&K Productions, who stepped up to the challenge to bring forward the stories behind the images stored in book placed in a box then conducted and edited over 50 interviews, 100's of photos, and archive film into one 1 hour 16 minutes piece of informative movie entertainment.

Fred 'Frosty' Knoop as he appeared during an interview in the film presentation of "Racing Through the Forest" at Spanish Bay. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

For those who may have been unfamiliar with Rick,  he is the son of Fred 'Frosty' Knoop who also happened to be a driver of sport cars while ranching, raising and judging horses in Northern California. Rick came by his skill through his DNA, in that Frosty raced sport cars in the formative years of modern road racing through the woods of the Monterey Peninsula.

For Rick's contribution to motor culture, as a driver, Rick consistently won and placed in the world’s most challenging and prestigious sports car races that include his victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans to winning at Daytona.

Rick Knoop as he winds up the V8 engine of the 1972 Can Am McLaren M8F on the front straight of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the 2014 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Image Credit: Thomas Stahler (2014)

Today, Rick still straps on his similarly colored Bruno Junqueira helmet (or should this be stated the other way around) in an effort to keep alive race cars from past series so that the memory of these engineering marvels never fades.

Here, Rick Knoop moves from a qualifying position of 11 to finish on the podium in P3 at the 2014 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Movie Poster - Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

 This excerpted and edited from KSBW.com -

Pebble Beach race track remembered in 'Racing Through The Forest'
By Amy Larson - Aug 15, 2014 - UPDATED 11:48 AM PDT

"Racing Through The Forest," which premiered at The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach on Wednesday during Monterey auto week. 

The film revealed never-before-seen footage of the Pebble Beach Road Races, held from 1950-1956.

Before there was Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, young brilliant mechanics in California who had dreams of becoming race car drivers wanted to compete in their Jaguars, Ferraris, MGs, and Alfa Romeos, and they needed a place to race.

Photo of the track shown in the film presentation of "Racing Through the Forest" at Spanish Bay. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

They chose 17 Mile Drive to be their dangerous track.

The public road had sharp turns and dramatic elevation drops. Del Monte Forest's dense pine trees lined the road and created a strobe light effect. Dark shadows from the trees sharply contrasted against a bright white sky, and the visual effect distracted drivers.
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The 1950s is now considered the romantic time of American racing, before the sport became a business for car manufacturers and competition between athletes for sponsors. The Pebble Beach Road Race's entry fee was $15, and drivers were only semi-professional because sports car racing was just being born in America.

Graphic of the original track layout as shown in the film presentation of "Racing Through the Forest" at Spanish Bay. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

Each race, the men behind the wheel got better, the pits become more innovative with designs, and some drivers went on to become world champions (In 1961, Phil Hill became the first American to win the Formula One World Drivers' Championship. Carroll Shelby went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959 and design Shelby Cobra and Shelby Ford Mustangs).
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Crowds of fans were nine-people deep along some parts of the Del Monte Forest track, and the only barriers between fans and the track were a few bales of hay. There was always an undercurrent of adrenaline and danger, fans said.

Crowds and the track as a Triumph TR2 misses a corner as shown in the film presentation of "Racing Through the Forest" at Spanish Bay. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

Pebble Beach's race track ended in tragedy, when driver Ernie McAfee crashed a Ferrari into a tree and died instantly. A race in Pebble Beach never happened again.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was built on Fort Ord in 1957 and became the modern day successor.

The goal behind making "Racing Through The Forest" was to unearth what these pioneering, fearless young drivers did in the 1950s and gather film footage that would otherwise be lost over time. The film was written and directed by filmmaker Dean Kirkland and produced by renowned race car driver Rick Knoop.
[Reference Here]

Invited guests watch the screening of "Racing Through the Forest" at Spanish Bay. Here, Bill Pollack imparts some memories in the movie as Bill Pollack (end of front row) watches. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014) 

This seminal set of races also placed in motion the process of finding lighter, faster, more powerful, nimble cars from around the world and helped to fashion a racing resource template used today that has its motor culture roots firmly based in the forest around Pebble Beach.

"What began as a tribute to my father, Fred Knoop, has evolved into a celebration of one of the world’s greatest road races," Rick Knoop said at the Spanish Bay movie premiere. "We’re thrilled to share this incredible story with audiences at the Pebble Beach Concours. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to explore this incredible history, especially just feet from the road where the men and machines did battle."

Rick Knoop and Dean Kirkland delivered on the promise these photographs stored in an album and held in a box to be brought back to life with heart in a way an image could never do ... through film.

A must see film where the heart of the making of the presentation comes through in every frame and leaves an indelible and permanent impression.

... notes from The EDJE

Dario Franchitti Enjoys Some Downtime Before Indy's GoPro Sonoma

Dario Franchitti Enjoys Some Downtime Before Indy's GoPro Sonoma

Last week, between races, IndyCar stand out driver for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Dario Franchitti visited the motor culture event that coincides the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Vintage Motorsports TV's Thomas Stahler had a chance to chat with Dario at the Automobilia (vintage items, posters, books, and etc. for exchange) tent for a few minutes before Dario had to engage into what he does best ... drive.

This next weekend, Dario will be competing in the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma with an incredible field of championship-minded drivers where Dario holds a unique distinction. Dario Franchitti's average finish in competition at Sonoma Raceway is the highest of all of the leading drivers in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

IZOD INDYCAR SERIES TOP 10 AT SONOMA - Image Credit: indycar.com

To look at this information from a stack ranking perspective ... one can say Dario Franchitti has a distinct performance advantage on the track at Sonoma Raceway.

Top 10 In 2013 Championship Points Chase Sonoma Raceway Finishing Record Plus Two Honorable Mentions - Top average finishing position stack ranking:

Dario Franchitti - 3.4

Ryan Briscoe - 6.7

Scott Dixon - 7.1

Will Power - 7.3

Helio Castroneves - 7.5

Justin Wilson - 8.3

Tony Kanaan - 9.0

Simon Pagenaud - 11.0

 Marco Andretti - 15.1

Ryan Hunter-Reay - 15.2

James Hinchcliffe - 16.5

Charlie Kimball - 23.5

Interesting analytical look at the facts ... but let's just run the race, 'cause that's why we race ... OKAY?

 ... notes from The EDJE

Sean Rayhall Sets His Own Winning Legacy At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Image Credit: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

Sean Rayhall Sets His Own Winning Legacy At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

If one is a race fan and the sound of this last name sounds familiar, it's because this sound ... Rayhall/Rahal/etc., no matter how it's spelled, is the sound of winning.

Image Credit: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

This sound has an additional historic significance at one of California's racing treasures, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (MRLS). Bobby Rahal had won more races at MRLS as a ChampCar driver, then team owner, and ALMS sports car team owner (all combined) than anyone else in the history of the storied race track, and since September, 2003 his name is linked to the facility in perpetuity. The challenging section of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca from the exit of Turn 6 up the hill and through the Turn 7 kink to the entrance of the Corkscrew was named the "Rahal Straight," honoring one of the true greats of this historic venue.

Image Credit: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

Last weekend had this familiar sound winning yet again, but this sound is not spelled like the name of the back uphill straight at MRLS. Sean Rayhall shares much of the same DNA from Lebanon as the other, more famous Rahal sounding/spelling family, but much more importantly, shares the ways of winning domination at MRLS. First, by posting a P1 in qualifications for the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda two race weekend. Then, by winning both Friday's Round 3 and Saturday's Round 4 of this 2013 Mazda ladder series season.

Image Credit: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

"Qualifications went really well - for the Comprent Motor Sports Machine," Sean Rayhall said. "The Robert Talbott No. 14 got the pole for both races so we are really excited about that.  Me and Mike (Brandon - engineer) worked really hard these past few nights to get the perfect set up and we made a lot of changes. But it ended up being the right way to go!"

At the end of Round 4 on Saturday when asked about the weekend, the 18-year-old Sean Rayhall said, "We had a little competition on the start of the race I guess but I am really happy to come away with Robert Talbott winning both these races. This is an awesome event and it's awesome to be here at Laguna with everyone and to come away with two poles and two wins for Robert Talbott, Comprent Motor Sports and Racing Radios. I really have to thank everyone behind me in my program for giving me a chance to do this."
(ht: prototypelites.com)

Image Credit: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

When pressed about the competition at the start of Round 4, Sean shared, "Me and Ryan Booth had some hard side to side racing [at the start] in the second race. Even a bit of contact going into [turn] two between us, but after that it was clear sailing!"

In a post race question laden conversation with Sean Rayhall, it was discovered that this winning attitude at MRLS was developed quite recently, in that Sean first drove this track "a month ago in a SCCA event actually driving a spec racer. We broke the track record by a second and had a ton of fun learning the track with 3 wins."

What age did you discover that you wished to become a race car driver and what was your first venture in driving competitively (Karts? Sports cars?)?

"I started karts at 7 and wanted to be a race car driver since then. Moved to cars at 12 where I broke the record for youngest driver to win an open wheel race in the states."

Besides the infamous Corkscrew ... what other section of the track do you find challenging? And, Why?

"At Mazda Raceway besides the Corkscrew ... turn 6 [going into the "Rahal Straight" section] and turn 9 ["Rainey Curve"] are interesting turns because of the high speed and elevation changes involved which take a fine setup to handle correctly in those areas."

Image Credit: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

After Rounds 3 and 4 of the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda, it now can be said of this young, new Rayhall on the motorsports racing scene, the Rahal that has a winning legacy connection with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca isn't just named Bobby ... or Graham (found a P3 finish in Star Mazda 2005 - ?) ... but also Sean with the last name sounding the same but spelled Rayhall!

With continued dominate success, they may have to name the currently unnamed Turn 6, going into the "Rahal Straight", "Rayhall Curve" ... Y? what the L! (the two missing letters from the name of the next section), just a thought.

... notes from The EDJE


**Article first posted as Sean Rayhall Sets His Own Winning Legacy At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca at Motorsports Unplugged**

Can A Race Car Simulator Give One A Real Race Car Experience?

Award winning writer Thomas Stahler takes his turn at the wheel while at Seat Time’s Media Challenge. Here Tom negotiates past turn #3 along the short chute to turn #4 at the famed Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

Can A Race Car Simulator Give One A Real Race Car Experience?

Seat Time is Southern California’s premier simulator center. This environment offers a unique, immersive racing experience utilizing state of the art professional-grade training simulators in the heart of West Los Angeles, at the Santa Monica Airport.

Elliott Skeer is an up and coming driver involved in the Mazda driver development ladder series racing for CJ Wilson Racing in the 2012 Playboy MX5 Cup racing series. In this video, we see him laying down marker laps in order to post a time for writers and photographers who join in the MPG/Mazda MX5 Cup Media Challenge. The drive of for the challenge took place August 5, 2012 beginning at 1:00pm PT. The marker time Elliott posted was 1:42.904.

Elliott did not mention this, but he won the 2012 Race #1 Playboy MX-5 Cup at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca held May. 11, 2012 after qualifying in P2. Elliott’s fastest lap time during the 27 lap race at MRLS was recorded as 1:42.324.

Mazda Media Challenge lap time as posted before the competition on Saturday, August 5, 2012. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

 

This excerpted and edited from STUART ROWLANDS PR press reports of  the SEAT TIME MEDIA CHALLENGE RACE -

For two weeks of grueling qualifying runs, media members sweating, straining, sawing at steering wheels, systematically stabbing at brakes, and braving the infamous “Corkscrew” once a lap are now history.
 
From July 15th through the 31st media members from all over the map made their way out to SEAT TIME in Santa Monica, California to test their formidable driving skills against each other … all sim-driving the same exact, identical Spec Mazdas on the rolling hills and steep drops of Mazda Raceway in Laguna Seca, all the while in the comfort of a club-like salon setting at the very aptly-named e-motorsports establishment.
 
For the moment the (simulated) tire smoke has cleared and the fantastically realistic CXC racing simulators are getting a well-deserved cooling off period before they are fired up again at 2PM on Saturday afternoon August 4 for the first ever SEAT TIME MEDIA CHALLENGE RACE.  
 
The event will be a flat-out, 30-minute timed race that pits the four fastest qualifiers directly against each other on the justifiably famous race track for all the marbles.And here they are:  Top qualifier: Jason Isley, from Sports Car/Racer Magazine who turned in a quick lap of 1:44.862.  In a close second: Kurt Niebhur from Edmunds.com with a 1:45.330. Third and not  far behind (hey it’s a long race): Preston Lerner from Automobile Magazine who’s best lap was 1:46.349. And … starting from the coveted “south pole” position: Edmunds.com’s own Mark Takahashi whose 1:48.837 got him in the big show.

Kurt Niebuhr from Edmunds.com went into the lead directly from his outside front row starting spot and handily lead all 30 minutes of the inaugural SEAT TIME Media Challenge yesterday afternoon at the unique Santa Monica sim-racing establishment. Winner Niebuhr had decided to run a conservative race “… No spins, clean driving,” he said in post-race interviews. His win was a popular one and his name will forever be enshrined as the first of what is sure to become a long-standing annual event.

 

The Saturday afternoon showdown event was the culmination of a two week (plus) qualifying period that saw members of the motoring media stopping by SEAT TIME and laying down a fast lap time on the twisting-snaking race course at Mazda Raceway in Monterey, California.
 
Sim-driving identical Spec Mazda Miatas, the four fastest media types on the west coast ran a head-to-head final event at SEAT TIME in each piloting their own individual super high-tech CXC Motion-Pro II racing simulator.

Preston Lerner from Automobile Magazine was second in the race.  Lerner was new to sim-racing but has been a successful club sports car racer for many years now.  He was there to have fun but he got down to being very serious about lines and lap times when the green flag dropped.  Lerner ran hard but just could not quite catch the almost flawless Niebuhr.

Another Edmunds.com staffer, Mark Takahashi, was running well up when the track just somehow sort of tightened up on him causing him to loop his Mazda at the top of the course; he finished third.

Chris Considine, CXC’s major-domo and the chief designer/brains behind the company’s phenomenal products and matching success, was on hand to cheer the media-types on.  Considine was taking a break from overseeing CXC’s weekend move from their now-outgrown design and manufacturing facilities in Marina del Rey, California to spacious new headquarters on Imperial Highway right at LAX.  

“This is exactly what we envisioned from the start at CXC,” Considine told us.  “We designed and build our machines for the realistic possible racing experience you can have short  of driving the real thing.  It never gets old for me to see a group like this getting so very serious about competition … It’s always cool to be a part of.”
 
Fastest qualifier, and a prohibitive favorite going in based on his prior racing exploits, SportsCar/Racer Magazine’s Jason Isley had an uncharacteristically bad day on the raceway, looping his little Miata a couple of times and finally retiring in the pits a few laps before the end of the 30 minutes championship runoff.

The highly-experienced racer Isley had words for it: “This is much harder than the real thing,” he quipped good naturedly as he accepted his 4th place trophy and parting gifts from MazdaSpeed’s peripatetic PR-pro Dean Case.

“Mazda’s participation in this first event was of enormous benefit,” said Chas Lawrence.  “They are very serious about young drivers and bringing them along not only as competitors, but as representatives of their company.  Their participation here at SEAT TIME puts us in some very good company.”

At the end of the 30 minute race, and even though they were all competing in a very comfortably air-conditioned salon atmosphere, all four drivers were soaked in sweat.  “That’s a diving simulator AND an exercise machine, Takahashi quipped as he chugged a cold bottle of water.

Young Mazda pro driving champ Elliott Skeer drove up from his home in Vista, California to be on hand to coach any of the contestants who needed a bit of help.  Two weeks earlier, Skeer had stopped by SEAT TIME and set the “official” bogey time (1.42.904). Note: his time was not eclipsed (at least at this event) by this group of hard chargers.  After the race the 17-year old put on an impromptu driving clinic for the media and fans effortlessly running near-record time laps at Mazda Raceway at the “keyboard” of the CXC machine.

Everyone in attendance agreed that the event needs to be an annual happening and SEAT TIME founder/operator Lawrence agreed.  “We really want to thank all the members of the media who took part in this new event … I know that all of them had a great time, and they’re all invited back for Media Challenge II!”

ENDS
 

The winner’s podium (L to R) Winner Kurt Niebhur, SEAT TIME owner Chas Lawrence, Jason Isely 4th, Mark Takahashi 3rd, and Preston Lerner. 2nd. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

Elliott Skeer is not the only professional race car driver to use Seat Time to gain some track experience. The following partial list have had multiple sessions at the Santa Monica location:

Patrick Long- ALMS GT, factory Porsche driver

Marco Holzer- ALMS GT, factory Porsche driver

Townsend Bell- ALMS GT, Indycar

Matt Halliday- FIA GT1, Australian V8 Supercars

David Heinemeier Hannson- ALMS P2

Michael Avenatti- ALMS GTC

Bob Faieta- ALMS GTC, Grand Am GT

Sean Johnston- IMSA GT3 Challenge (current points leader!)

Daniel “CJ” Calvert-Jones- IMSA GT3 Challenge, Grand Am GT

Fred Poordad- IMSA GT3 Challenge, Grand Am GT

Austin Dyne- NASCAR West Series

Harrison Geron- SCCA Spec Racer Ford

Brian Makse- NASA National Champion, MX5 Cup

Tommy Kendall-retired until last week! now, ALMS GT

Can a race car simulator give one a real race car experience? Judging by the emotional reaction of the automotive media gathered at the challenge, the list of names of accomplished drivers above, and the fact CXC Simulators just completed installing these type of machines at F1 team locations in Europe, one would have to come away with a resounding answer of … YES!

Whether one is an accomplished racer, aspire to become one, or are just an enthusiast looking for a unique experience, Seat Time is the place to come! Call 310.390.3580 or email (from the form at – http://www.seattimesims.com) today for more information or to reserve some … Seat Time.

… notes from The EDJE

** Article first published as Can a Race Car Simulator Give One a Real Race Car Experience? on Technorati **

The New BMW M5 Breaks Cover At Pebble Beach

The BMW M5 we drove a year ago, and spotted again last month in Barstow, California, officially broke cover on the Monterey Peninsula this past week. First BMW brought the car out to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for a few quick laps, some video, and photo shoots, with some of it's early siblings in attendance at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.

Then, still pretending the car is way off (rather than in production as it really is) they took the covers off and had it parked on "The Concept Lawn" in front of The Lodge at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The new car is de-tuned to only 560 HP, and has gobs of grunt where the last model had "Not so much".

Image credit, Dicken Wear


Image credit, Dicken Wear


Image credit, Dicken Wear


Image credit, Dicken Wear

When our friends Will Turner, Jim Conforti, and Steve Dinan do their magic on this beast, hold on girls and boys as this will again be, as it already is, the "Worlds Fastest Production Sedan".

My question again (as it was with the last model), "Why do we even need this car, and why does BMW build these cars for any wanker with a check book, that have no idea what it is, or how to drive even a regular 535i anywhere near it's limit?"

And the limit on this car, equals that of the "Space Shuttle", almost none.

At least, with Ferrari, to get their baddest of the bad top model, they make sure you have owned others, and hope you know what you're getting into. BMW on the other hand, has no such cares or concerns.

Dealers will find a way to sell these first cars for $25K to $35K over sticker to the first few dimwits that must have the newest and fastest for the first 6 months. Then the cars will be sold to what I hope is a more qualified driver, perhaps a member of BMWCCA, that has at least gone to a Driver's School or two.

If you want to drive past almost every Hi-End production car on a whim, or if you want to scare the daylights out of three of your best friends all at once ... this is the ticket. I'd like to see, however, BMW set up a program where to get one of these Monster, Rocket Street Cars, you must complete some sort of Hi Performance Driving School, and get a letter signed off that says you know what to do with a Gun of this size and caliber.

For example, when I teach shooting at the gun range I start every body off with 22s. You get to work your way up to .38, .357, and .44 caliber heat when I feel you are ready and have some control.

I'd really like to see OE's do the same thing with their "Rocket Cars". I'd hate to see another 5 idiot teenagers die driving their 5 series BMW into a tree, 20 feet off the ground at well over twice the legal speed limit posted in most states.

While this car will come from the dealer with a speed limit of only 155 MPH, make no mistake folks, this is a 200 + MPH car with minor tuning of the ECU. Like any smart gun owner, keep this Road Cannon locked up and away from the kids. Keep the trigger guard on, take safety classes, and don't ever point it at anyone in anger.

Dicken Wear, Editor-in-Chief, BMW M Car owner for over 25 years.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca 2010 American Le Mans Series Test

The American Le Mans Series has named G-OIL from Green Earth Technologies as the official motor oil of the series and the sanctioning body, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). Unlike conventional petroleum-derived motor oils, G-OIL is made from saturated animal fats which have been processed through dehydrogenation. While the stuff may not be good for people to ingest in any significant quantities, the saturated fats apparently make a good lubricant and G-OIL has similar properties to petroleum oils. G-OIL is claimed to be biodegradable and Green Earth sells all its products in fully recyclable containers. The car pictured is the G-OIL ORECA-Courage FLM09 racing car for the newly formed Green Earth Team Gunnar (GETG), driven by Gunner Jeannette whose effort had him finish 14th overall and third in LMPC class. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca 2010 American Le Mans Series Test

The Monterey hills were greeted with a wondrous, but a little chilly, spring day for the third test of the nine race 2010 American Le Mans Series season. The wind blew at times and the day's temperature never hit 70 degrees causing tire adhesion problems for some of the contenders throughout the day. One car even spun as it entered the front straight ready to take a restart, and another overshot the corner entirely and caused a wreck from which it never fully recovered ... from one of many Yellow Flag Caution periods throughout the race.

All in all, the race was hotly contested throughout the six hours until the checkered flag flew and the fireworks from the Mazda bridge, located just past the Start/Finish line, lit up the sky.

This excerpted and edited from American Le Mans Series PDF report -

At 8:18 pm (5h 48m running), Checkered Flag.

Marino Franchitti (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) crosses the line to take the overall victory.

Christophe Bouchut (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) wins in class by 7.105 seconds over Tom Sutherland (#36-LMPC Oreca FLM09).

Joey Hand, who drives the #90 BMW E92 M3 for Rahal Letterman Racing's BMW team, just before the race. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Patrick Long (#45-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) wins the closet battle just 0.365 seconds ahead of Joey Hand (#90-GT BMW E92 M3) and 2.766 seconds ahead of Oliver Gavin (#4-GT Chevrolet Corvette ZR1).

Jeroen Bleekemolen (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) lead flag to flag beating Andy Lally (#63-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) by move than one lap.

Marino Franchitti (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) records his 3rd ALMS win.
Simon Pagenaud (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) records his 7th ALMS win.
David Brabham (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) records his 21st ALMS win.

Christophe Bouchut (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) earns his second ALMS victory.
Mark Wilkins (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) earns his first ALMS victory.
Scott Tucker (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) earns his second ALMS victory.

Joerg Bergmeister (#45-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) now has 31 ALMS wins.
Patrick Long (#45-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) with 17 ALMS wins.

Jeroen Bleekemolen (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) earns his second ALMS victory.
Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) earns his second ALMS victory ... and first in the United States.
Tim Pappas (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) earns his second ALMS victory.

American Le Mans Series Monterey Presented Patrón – Race Quotes:

Marino Franchitti (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) “Procedurally this was a great performance for the team. Simon's drive was just a pleasure to watch. David got in and backed us up and got is a bit more of a lead. I knew the Dyson car was a bit of a terrier and I knew I didn't want to let them go. The guys made a great call not to put on new tires right there at the end. I was definitely hanging on for life, it was a bit like drifting or rally driving. It was great to have no damage and keep it together cause the car leaves Friday for Le Mans. So this is great heading to France.” (about the last stop) “Perry, our Michelin guy looked at our tires and said we were good.
Either way I was going to be happy. I knew I'd still have great tires and new tires were still really good. It was a perfect call because I could drive like I wanted to. Michelin was a big part of the win today.”

Simon Pagenaud in the HPD ARX-01c (lower left, black and green) as he brings the car forward through traffic from a start at the back of the pack. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Simon Pagenaud (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) “Thank you to the Highcroft Racing team, they did a fantastic job. The whole crew in the pits did a great job. The opening laps were pretty exciting. Starting at the back you have to find motivation and that was getting to the front. The ending of my stint was really good, the Michelin tires were working really, really good. We went through the traffic very quickly. We got ahead a lot from the first yellow the went out. It is a great team to be part of the operation like HR. Its great to go off to Le Mans where we're looking for the win.”

David Brabham (#1-LMP HPD ARX-01c) “The last couple of races here have been pretty good. Last year we won the championship here. I cant say enough about the team, today was an absolutely flawless demonstration of endurance racing. Everything happened out there and we made no mistakes in the pits. My teammates performed perfectly. This is the way to head off to Le Mans with this momentum.”

Joerg Bergmeister (#45-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) “It was definitely a bit more relaxing this year. Especially last year being chased down by Jan. I knew Patrick would do a good job because he has been good all week long. There were some who thought it wouldn't work out because the BMW was charging but I knew that Patrick would work it out and pull away. The car was working well all day long. It was a good race.”

Patrick Long (#45-GT Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) ”Laguna Seca has been special. It was always the race we finished up. And of course last year we finished with a literal and figurative bang. This year not quite as exciting but still exciting none-the-less. We had a call if we were going to play for points or go for the win. On the restart Joey left a bit of an open door and I took it 3 wide through 11. Then it was all about running because I knew Joey wouldn't be happy. We came from P8 and worked our way through a very competitive field. We know Risi had a hard day so unfortunately they were in the mix with everyone else in the end because they were so
tough this weekend. I cant say enough about the competitiveness in all the classes in this Series. So many cars on the lead laps at the end and its just tough.”

Scott Tucker (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) “I don't know if there is a secret. I have great co-drivers and a great team. Our manager has a great mind and these guys make it easy for me. They do a great job behind the scenes. “

Mark Wilkins (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) “We had to push really hard to keep up front. Christophe drove a great stint, so did Scott to keep the car up there. Level 5 gave us a great car at Sebring and they did here. We knew if we could run to the end we'd be right there.”

Christophe Bouchut (#55-LMPC Oreca FLM09) “Its a nice feeling to win again here. It was a great race, this time we had to fight really hard until the end. The car was working really well. We had no problems at all. I just pushed the car to the maximum to keep our positions.”

Sebastiaan Bleekemolen (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) “It feels great. Joroen said, we came here to win. We have a race Monday morning and we fly back home. This track is really sandy, it is the most difficult of the track. There was a car who went off at turn 4. An LMP went off and you couldn't see the track. But every driver knows this course so it's fun to drive when everyone is so familiar.”

Tim Pappas (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) “This is pretty cool. We came out for Long Beach without much preparation. We had a difficult, frustrating race. We went home and worked hard and practice. All the guys at Black Swan are great. The Bleekemolen brothers come over and it was a great race. We didn't put a tire off and made zero mistakes in the pits so that turned out to a race win.”

Jeroen Bleekemolen (#54-GTC Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) “I know the guys are great. We had a great start in Long Beach but some things went wrong, today it went really right. Its great to get the win and hopefully move up in the championships.”

Falling back into Spring, this race will rest for at least another year. It was good to be back so soon, now on to Le Mans, then the second have of the North American Tour begins.

... notes from The EDJE